Broken Hearts MinistryFocusing on relational evangelism to share Christ with the broken-hearted2017-06-01T01:51:19Zhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/feed/atom/WordPresshttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Logo_HeartOnly-e1358674362271.pngAntquanhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=22722016-05-19T03:54:01Z2016-05-13T04:45:35ZPhoto highlights from our White as Snow ministry in 2016 – praise music on the street, Bible study, a warm meal, free laundry, and relationship building…

We gather every last Thursday of the month to serve our community with free laundry. We pack out the place with an unlikely mix of those living on the streets to meet physical, spiritual, and relational needs. Always a powerful evening! Please contact us if you’d like to volunteer – we’d love to have you or your small group/church!

]]>1Antquanhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=22382016-05-13T04:10:09Z2016-05-13T04:10:09ZDid you know?…

Broken Hearts doesn’t only serve at nighttime on the streets of Hollywood. We have a broader vision, and a love for God and his people that takes us to various opportunities, and even to other cities, to help end the issue of homelessness, love those experiencing it, and train those who want to help.

We often hear, “Wow, that’s so great you do that. I could never do something like that. I’d love to help, though, do you have any other needs?”

Well, the answer to that is YES!

Here are some of the organizations and events we have partnered with recently. Check out the descriptions and photos – they may be something that you can participate in to get your feet wet.

1. Fun Outings with Friends – One of the best ways to build relationships is to do life together. We like to connect regularly with our friends to get away from the craziness of our cities and have some fun together!

2. Point in Time Homelessness Counts – Over the years we have been a part of helping with homeless counts in Hollywood and Costa Mesa, which helps our cities understand the current needs for services and housing, and determine if homelessness is increasing or decreasing.

Midtown Homelessness Coalition – It takes a village to help get those who are chronically homeless off the streets. The Midtown Los Angeles Homeless Coalition is made up of local resident and business groups, government agencies, and social service organizations working together to address chronic homelessness in the Midtown Los Angeles Area.

Surveys for Homeless Services – Partnering with Ivy House and California Plus America Pageant with the support of LAPD to go out into the community to survey people experiencing homelessness to match them to housing.

]]>0Antquanhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=22322016-05-03T02:43:19Z2016-05-03T02:43:19ZEvery Winter, churches in Hollywood come together to provide housing for some of the most vulnerable people in our city who have been experiencing homelessness chronically. No other cold-weather shelters exist in Hollywood, so it is always a special experience to see a variety of churches come together to serve in this way that is such a demonstration of the Kingdom of God. Three of Hollywood’s largest churches cover the first six weeks at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, and Broken Hearts has the privilege of filling in the gap in the last two weeks. We spear-head a mixture of smaller organizations and churches who want to serve but don’t have as many volunteers to make it happen.

Every morning before the sun rises, and every night until almost everyone has gone to sleep, volunteers are there to make coffee, pack up lunches, serve and share dinner, and provide an activity and devotional time. Most importantly, though, we get to build relationships and spend time simply getting to know about 25 people who rarely receive positive attention or caring conversation. Over the years, many long-lasting relationships have come from the Hollywood Winter Shelter, and in some cases, we are able to bring in our friends from the street who we’ve met on Thursday nights.

We truly appreciate all of the hours and love that volunteers poured out during the 2016 Winter Shelter. A special thanks to:

Saddleback Hollywood

The Gathering LA

Hollywood Lutheran

Los Feliz Rotary Club

United Methodist

Seventh Day Adventist

]]>0Antquanhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=22232016-04-26T04:32:16Z2016-04-26T04:22:51ZFor the past 3 years, Broken Hearts volunteers have given Ken relational support on his journey to ending his homelessness. We’ve had the opportunity to help him connect to professional services, as well as a male mentor, both of which have played a crucial role in ending his 10 years without a place to call home.

However, getting housed is never the end of the struggle. It has not been an easy road for Ken since finding a place to live – loneliness and tight finances cause daily struggles for Ken.

Recent inflation has made it impossible to afford rent, medical and food. Ken has often had to chose paying rent over having food. Many people are helping by giving monthly food, but it’s not always enough. Professional agencies and his mentor continue to help Ken look for an assisted living facility with an in-house church and daily meals. Ken loves the Lord, is dedicated to prayer, and is a baseball fan!

Please pray for Ken as we support him relationally in finding a new place to call home!

]]>0adminhttp://brokenhearts.jylin.com/?p=11362016-05-13T04:51:31Z2016-04-16T00:34:25ZOn the last Thursday of every month we host a laundry ministry event called White as Snow. We invite the community to bring their clothes, and we provide the quarters, detergent, donated clothes, and a warm meal.

Schedule of Events:

9:30pm – Volunteers Arrive

10:00pm – First load of laundry, followed by worship & Bible study/message

10:45 – Second load of laundry, followed by dinner & fellowship

12:00 – Clean Up

How to Help:

Volunteers to help visitors with their laundry, or simply be a friendly face to offer conversation

Provide a ride for a visitor who may have trouble carrying their laundry alone by bus

Bring 2 large tubs of laundry detergent, 2 bottles of bleach, 2 bottles of liquid fabric softner, or two boxes of dryer sheets

Help provide dinner with paper goods such as Styrofoam containers, heavy paper plates, cases of water, napkins and forks.

]]>1Esther Leehttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=21452013-10-28T18:31:47Z2013-10-28T18:30:01ZGod is in the gutters of Hollywood. Every week, we see Him on the streets. From 11pm to 2am, friends gather to have church on the concrete. We come from different backgrounds – homeless, college grads, high school drop-outs, saints, addicts, bangers, and believers – all broken but mended only with the glue of Christ’s blood. The most amazing part of this journey is to watch the Holy Spirit at work. Whether a friend is high or low, just turned a trick, or about to find one, for a brief moment the streets take pause and read the Word of God. Jesus truly does meet you where you’re at.

One Friday, a U.K. ministry team who serves the streets of London visited us to partner up for a night. Some from their ministry were once homeless themselves until God yanked them from darkness. Today, they share the gospel with other homeless men and women, just as the gospel was once shared with them. One servant, a big-hearted Scotsman, pulled out his phone to show me a picture from his past in the throws of addiction and homelessness. His face was unrecognizable in the portrait of his rebellion.

While hanging out, a long-time friend from the streets who we haven’t seen in months, walked into the convenient store. I ran him down and touched his shoulder (a holy kiss). His shifty eyes paused and he looked right at me: “That feels good,” he said unarmed. I let him know how happy I was to see him and asked how he was doing. “Fighting demons,” he said. “Insane is when demons live in a sane person; so I am going insane.” I invited him to hang out with us – eat some pizza and attend the Refuge Service. He refused but promised to come back after he scored a rock. We both knew…that wasn’t happening. The Holy Spirit prompted me to grab the Scotsman and an English woman to pray over our friend. The Scotsman and I laid hands on his rigid shoulders while the Englishwoman reached one hand toward the heavens and the other on his heart. She beckoned, “Come Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit…” Our weary friend closed his eyes and repeated under his breath how good it felt to be touched. His heart softened and tears poured from his eyes. He leaned into us and his body melted.

As I watched him surrender, I wanted, expected him to fall to his knees, ask for forgiveness, repent and be saved. This was his perfect moment and if it doesn’t happen right now, it never will (Philippians 4:6-7). Instead, he wiped his tears, thanked us with a hug and left to score his rock. Was I discouraged? Yes. But who am I to say what God did with him on his way to get high, or what God will do with him right now? Lord, forgive me. All any believer can do is love the people God puts before us when they enter our lives, even for a brief moment. After all, we don’t do the saving. Thank God!

-Rochelle

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

As we seek to make our cities well, we in turn become made well ourselves.
-Antquan Washington, Executive Director

Please pray for our friends below. All names have been changed for privacy.

Johan came to church for the first time at our Refuge service. After hearing about salvation and receiving a bible, he prayed to receive Christ! Please pray for the gospel to really sink in and become true in his life, to stay connected with us to start the discipleship process, and to find housing and work.

Deon shared that he doesn’t want to be saved or baptized until he is whole-hearted and not hypocritical. Please pray that God would open Dee’s eyes to come just as he is, that his desire would come quickly, and that he would come to salvation, and for his dream to buy a home for his family on the streets in Ohio.

Marshall is addicted to meth. He went to a Christian university and knows scripture well. Please pray that he would go back to the truth he knows and to desire God more than meth so he can kick his habit.

Alice has a religious background and seems to be in the crowd of drugs and prostitution. Please pray that she would respond to God’s invitation and let him in to love and transform her.

]]>0Hollyhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=19432013-06-14T01:39:54Z2013-06-05T01:25:55ZPsychology, Christian faith, and Experience combine for a 4-week class to help you engage in serving the homeless and overlooked…
]]>0adminhttp://brokenhearts.jylin.com/?p=11332013-04-29T17:21:50Z2013-04-29T06:32:01ZHave you heard about what Broken Hearts is doing in Hollywood and want to play a part? From one-time events to financial support to joining a street team, there are many opportunities for you to use your gifts and passions here….
]]>0Hollyhttp://www.brokenheartsministry.org/?p=14712014-01-20T20:19:51Z2013-04-29T06:27:43ZRead some of the stories and insights from our Street Team nights on the boulevard in Hollywood…
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